shorten it

[SHOR-uh-n it]
verb phrase
encurtar isso
1. to make something shorter in length, duration, or distance
Can you shorten it? The pants are too long.
Você pode encurtar isso? A calça está muito comprida.
2. to reduce the duration or length of time for something
Let's shorten it and leave the meeting early.
Vamos encurtar isso e sair da reunião mais cedo.
3. to make a text, speech, or document more concise
Can you shorten it without losing the main idea?
Você pode encurtar isso sem perder a ideia principal?
This is a common practical phrase used in both American and Brazilian contexts. In Brazil, it's frequently used in tailor shops, during meetings, and in casual conversation. The informal variant 'encurta aí' (with the particle 'aí') is particularly popular in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo as a casual, friendly way to ask someone to shorten something.
NYC Slang
cut it short / make it shorter
Synonyms / Sinônimos
cut it shorttrim itreduce itcondense itabbreviate it
Antonyms / Antônimos
lengthen itextend itexpand itprolong it

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
encurtar isso
standard and widely used across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
encurta isso
informal colloquial variant
São Paulo
encurta aí
common informal variant with 'aí' particle
Portugal
encurta isso
same as Brazilian, though less frequently used in daily speech

Related Words

shortenshortenedshorteningshorttrimcut

Related Idioms & Phrases

cut to the chase
make a long story short
in a nutshell
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